NameCensus.

UK surname

Merryweather

A habitational surname derived from a location called "Merryweather" or "Merry Weather".

In the 1881 census there were 673 people recorded with the Merryweather surname, ranking it #5,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 901, ranked #6,298, down from #5,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Battersea and Long Benton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Stockton-on-Tees and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Merryweather is 950 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.9%.

1881 census count

673

Ranked #5,361

Modern count

901

2016, ranked #6,298

Peak year

1911

950 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Merryweather had 673 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 901 in 2016, ranked #6,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 950 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Merryweather surname distribution map

The map shows where the Merryweather surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Merryweather surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Merryweather over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 367 #6,469
1861 historical 385 #6,655
1881 historical 673 #5,361
1891 historical 735 #5,398
1901 historical 896 #5,163
1911 historical 950 #4,744
1997 modern 911 #5,918
1998 modern 931 #5,999
1999 modern 939 #6,003
2000 modern 931 #6,027
2001 modern 917 #5,993
2002 modern 938 #5,997
2003 modern 912 #6,019
2004 modern 894 #6,123
2005 modern 883 #6,105
2006 modern 877 #6,157
2007 modern 887 #6,154
2008 modern 887 #6,198
2009 modern 898 #6,281
2010 modern 919 #6,286
2011 modern 912 #6,267
2012 modern 878 #6,367
2013 modern 912 #6,289
2014 modern 915 #6,299
2015 modern 907 #6,299
2016 modern 901 #6,298

Geography

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Where Merryweathers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Battersea, Long Benton and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Stockton-on-Tees, Northumberland, Wyre Forest and Doncaster. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 Long Benton Northumberland
5 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 059 County Durham
2 Stockton-on-Tees 021 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Northumberland 010 Northumberland
4 Wyre Forest 012 Wyre Forest
5 Doncaster 005 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Merryweather

These lists show first names that appear often with the Merryweather surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Merryweather

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Merryweather, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Merryweather surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Merryweather household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Merryweather is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Merryweather is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Merryweather falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Merryweather is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Merryweather, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Merryweather

The surname Merryweather is of English origin, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname, derived from the Old English words "myrige" meaning "pleasant" or "merry," and "weder" meaning "weather." This combination suggests that the name was initially given to someone with a cheerful and sunny disposition.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Merryweather can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a person named William Meryweder. This document serves as evidence that the name was in use during the 13th century in England.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Meriweder, Meryweder, and Meryweather, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 mention a John Meryweder, while the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire in 1379 include a Thomas Meriweder.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Merryweather was Sir John Merryweather (c. 1430-1498), a wealthy merchant and alderman of the City of London during the reign of King Henry VII. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1487.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Merryweather was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire, as evidenced by parish records and historical documents from that period.

Another prominent figure with this surname was William Merryweather (1592-1654), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Prestwich in Lancashire. He published several religious works, including "A Manual of Briefe Directions for a Godly Life" in 1635.

In the 18th century, John Merryweather (1715-1799) was a renowned English cartographer and surveyor. He produced numerous maps and charts, including a highly regarded map of Kent published in 1769.

The 19th century saw the birth of George Merryweather (1812-1899), a prominent English inventor and engineer. He is best known for his contributions to the development of fire engines and firefighting equipment, including the Merryweather fire engine, which became widely used across Britain and beyond.

Throughout its history, the surname Merryweather has been associated with various places in England, such as Merryweather Farm in Oxfordshire, Merryweather's Green in Worcestershire, and Merryweather Hill in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its English origins and prevalence in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Merryweather families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Merryweather surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 180 Merryweathers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.76x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 180 2.76x
Middlesex 68 1.03x
Lancashire 61 0.78x
Surrey 58 1.81x
Lincolnshire 56 5.33x
Durham 52 2.66x
Bedfordshire 43 12.63x
Nottinghamshire 29 3.27x
Berkshire 28 5.67x
Hampshire 18 1.34x
Wiltshire 18 3.10x
Kent 12 0.53x
Northumberland 10 1.02x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.92x
Derbyshire 7 0.68x
Warwickshire 7 0.42x
Leicestershire 4 0.55x
Essex 3 0.23x
Somerset 3 0.28x
Dorset 2 0.46x
Norfolk 2 0.20x
Sussex 2 0.18x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 26 Merryweathers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.75x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 26 10.75x
Stranton 20 30.37x
Sandy 18 300.00x
Kensington London 16 4.38x
Kingston On Thames 15 19.49x
Southwell 15 232.56x
Everton 12 4.83x
Leeds 12 3.26x
Reading St Giles 12 24.78x
Salford 11 4.79x
Sedghill 11 2558.14x
Islington London 10 1.57x
Arlesey 9 209.30x
Great Driffield 9 67.31x
Nocton 9 638.30x
Sherborne St John 9 620.69x
York St Mary 9 33.36x
Guisbrough 8 56.18x
Liverpool 8 1.69x
Manchester 8 2.28x
Scopwick 8 888.89x
Skellingthorpe 8 493.83x
St Andrewthe Less 8 16.81x
Barnsley 7 10.42x
Birmingham 7 1.27x
Hartlepool 7 25.18x
Langford 7 250.00x
Middlesbrough 7 8.25x
Newton 7 11.64x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 7 30.08x
Stockton On Tees 7 7.42x
Woolwich 7 8.45x
Camberwell 6 1.43x
Chiswick 6 16.70x
East Cowton 6 689.66x
Gate Fulford 6 39.45x
Gayles 6 2068.97x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 14.31x
Kirby Hill In Richmond 6 3333.33x
Northallerton 6 72.12x
Owston 6 201.34x
Reading St Mary 6 15.18x
Southill 6 217.39x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 6 40.57x
Almondbury 5 15.87x
Bishop Auckland 5 19.05x
Boothby Graffoe 5 1315.79x
Longbenton 5 12.07x
Reading St Lawrence 5 47.35x
Shoreditch London 5 1.75x
Stratfieldsaye 5 387.60x
Sulhamstead Abbots 5 735.29x
Aiskew 4 213.90x
Basford 4 9.79x
Bedale 4 168.78x
Brotton 4 47.06x
Broughton In Salford 4 5.61x
Chippenham 4 32.81x
East Retford 4 52.02x
Eckington 4 15.99x
Hackney London 4 1.09x
Keighley 4 5.76x
Rotherham 4 10.89x
St George Hanover 4 4.66x
Thrintoft 4 1212.12x
Upton Grey 4 425.53x
Welbourn 4 320.00x
Bermondsey 3 1.53x
Clarborough 3 45.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 2.26x
Frome 3 11.85x
Fulham London 3 3.15x
Hulme 3 1.84x
Hutton Lowcross 3 566.04x
Lewisham 3 2.51x
Leyburn 3 136.99x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 3 23.33x
North Cowton 3 468.75x
Sandal Magna 3 31.15x
Thorpe On The Hill 3 468.75x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Merryweather surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 33
Sarah 28
Jane 18
Ann 17
Emma 13
Alice 11
Annie 11
Margaret 11
Ellen 9
Martha 7
Ada 6
Eliza 6
Charlotte 5
Emily 5
Fanny 5
Maria 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Rose 4
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Clarissa 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Hannah 2
Isabel 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Margret 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Elenor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Janet 1
Jennie 1
Temperance 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Merryweather surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 44
William 43
George 24
Thomas 23
Henry 20
James 18
Charles 13
Edward 10
Joseph 10
Alfred 9
Richard 9
Arthur 8
Robert 8
Frank 6
Walter 6
Wm. 6
Frederick 5
Harry 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Fredrick 2
Horatio 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Claude 1
Clifton 1
Compton 1
Craven 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Fred 1
Fred.W. 1
Frederk 1
Gerald 1
Harold 1
Herdman 1
Jimpson 1
Johnathan 1
Jos. 1
Logan 1
Lot 1
Luke 1
Martin 1
Montague 1
Moses 1

FAQ

Merryweather surname: questions and answers

How common was the Merryweather surname in 1881?

In 1881, 673 people were recorded with the Merryweather surname. That placed it at #5,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Merryweather surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 901 in 2016. That gives Merryweather a modern rank of #6,298.

What does the Merryweather surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a location called "Merryweather" or "Merry Weather".

What does the Merryweather map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Merryweather bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.